Football training apparatus



July 7, 1953 y E. PERRY 2,644,334

` FOOTBALL TRAINIG APPARATUS Filed Jan. 8, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTOR,

v Elwood ifi@ a udg l @i 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. i BY Elu/ood Im@ 4Z... /ZM'LMMJ. afg

E. L. PERRYv .EFII IWW. f

FOOTBALL TRAINING APPARATUS July 7, 1953 Filed Jan. 8, 1948 July 7, 1953 E. l.. PERRY FOOTBALL TRAINING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 8, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 E. L. PERRY FOOTBALL TRAINING APPARATUS Jgly 7, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet y4 Flled Jan i@ au# @8.

Patented July 7, 1953 UNITED STATES ois-Fics.

y y 2,644,334 Y. Fo'riarn .LA 'ritaININa4 ARPARATUS; El-womlL. Perry, Hickory, N. C. AppliearionJanaary s, 194e, 1.239

1aeiaims. (c1. cas-379,);-

The invention relatesyto footballrtrainingapparatus. and more particularly to apparatusfor training players in the art` of blocking,V and tackling, y

One object of the invention is to provide apparatus ofthe above generalcharacter by which players may be ing. and tackling,V and whichis.` adapted toraccurately :measure the reaction timefof the player. as Well as. the force; heis ableto exert against anopponent.

Another` object is.. ineqepparatus f themember or dummy and embodyiing Anovel means. whereby the impact memberv may be. operated to. closely simulate a charging opponent.

to providefootball train.-V

Another object Vis. ,t0lv Drovdeimpmved mea-ns..

forsupportingy they impact. member and for supplying` the Aforce requiredtogresist itsV dis- 4 placement by theimpact. of acharging player..

given realistic training in both.V offensive. and defensive tactjlcsrinvolvingl bloei:-v

typerhaving an impact,v

StillA another object. is to provide; improved uuid-.operated means for controlli-ne..theV returnof tine impact. member after=- displacement by a charging player. including; means ,forV anto-` matically limiting. thereturnizof: themember t0. a predetermined starting posi-tion.

A; .further 1 ,object is.; .to :prende compact,

I portable football trainingapparatusl which. is.; simple and rugged `in construction andY which isfV adapted tol function efficiently arid-tf; retainjts vaccuracy under-the extremely rough usage to which such apparatus is'. commonly subjected., Other objects yand advantages: .of the. invenf tion will becomeA apparent from. the` .followingdetailed descriptionrof the preferred, emhQdb menty illustrated in the. accompanying draw;-

ings, infwhich:

Figure 1 is a perspectiveviert` ofi football. training apparatus embodyingl the features of.,

the invention. y

Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe apparatus..v

Fig. 3: is a. side elevational-.view off'thezappae ratus.

Figl 4k isa fragmentary vlongitudinal?sectional.

I vievvofthefappa-ratus.V n v A Fig. 5'l is a fragmentary sectional viewaofrthe; resilient supportv for the impact member taken.

in a plane substantially on the: line 5-.5 of Fig2.

n Fig. 6 is afragmentary sectionalview-takenin a plane substantially on. the .liney 6 6. of

Fig. 3. v l y Y Fig. '7v is av sectional vievv.l taken in; afplane Figs. 8, 4and ;9;` arel detaili views tol'rthe;,ree,ll brakes.

control.Y means. Y. .Y

While. the, invention., is. susceptible of4 various modicatons and alternative constructions, I havesiiovvnA in; thedrawings and will herein describein detail thepreferred embodiment, but it isto be. understood` that. I. do, .not thereby intend tf1-limit. the invention to the specic form :1-isclosed`butintendl toy cover all modifications and alternativeconstructions falling within the spirit. and scope' of the` invention as .expressed intheappended claims.. K l

In carrying out the invention... I provide a tackling` dumm-yor .impact member I0 adapted tdbecharged; by, a player undergoing training in .blocling and tackling tactics. The-impact member .is supported'for. .yielding movement under-the; impactof. thecharging, player and means. is.,` providedv for measuring and visually indi-` eating` the force'- exertedr` 4thereon. by` the player so` that the coach4 or trainer can readilyV determinet his effectiveness.. Moreover, provision is madesqthatthe coach may initiate.v a forward vmovement of the. impact member Ii),y to simulate.. a..charging` opponentl and` may accurately me.asure,the time required for the. player to react-,and stop. the. advancing member in response to a signal;-accompanying itsy release.

In thelappara-.tusselectedf to illustrate the inventiQn'.A theimpaet member In is mountedV aty oneend of; ari-elongated rod or driving` bar II which. issupported and guided foraxial` horizontal movementivinarrigidfname structure I2v f adapted. to.- bel securely anchored tothe playing surface..vv The,-vv frame L2; is.. an open box-liker structure generally rectangular in. transverse section.N and preferably constructed of. anglev iron. members. secured together inl any suitable manner,Y asbyv-Welding the exemplary ap` paratusr the.4` frame-I2 comprises spaced parallel top.v and b ottomfsidefV members I3l and I4, and top and bottom- .endpmembers |51-y and I6 interconnected uprightv corner posts; I1. At thev frontencLof. the; fratrie, the; side members I3 and I4. are-extended beyond the corner posts I'I, as

arebent .inwardly and connected by cross. vmembers. |82 andI I9;'to formA a.; tapered end section. rlhe cross membersflaand I9. are-connected by spaced,uprights ZIJ. and.` similarly'spaced uprights; 2'I are provided between the `end members LS1-and. Nif forfsunportine and guiding the, dm-

, nqbal. ll., as. Willy apDBanpresentl-y. Longitudinal reinforcing members 22. extend between thefend members-'mand IEand the companion cross membersv I8 l and L9 to. impart strength and rigidity, to; :the forwardsection. off' the frame.

is formed with a central recess for the reception of a rearwardly facing tubular socket 26 which is held rigid with the member It by means of brackets 2'?.

As shown in Fig. 5, the driving bar i I is in the' form of a heavy tube or pipe and the socket 26 is dimensioned to fit loosely over the end thereof.

Within the socket 2t are a pair of axially spaced bushings apertured to receive the end of the bar II with a sliding fit so as to permit relative axial movement between the bar and the irnpact member. A coiled compression spring 29 interposed between the cross member or plug 3B secured within the bar II and the adjacent facey of the plate 2?: urges the impact member outwardly to a limit position determined by a key SI rigid With the bar and engaging in a longitudinal slot '32 Vin the socket 26. A guide pin 33 fixed to the plate 25 and slidably received in an openingV in the plug @il extends through the spring 29 to retain it in operative position.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4' of the drawings, the driving bar II is supported and guided for axial movements by a pair of opposed rollers 35 journaled on the uprights'V and a second similar pair of rollers 36 journaled on the uprights 2l. The rollers are generally spool shaped or concave and are dimensioned to nt snugly over the bar II and thus hold it securely against lateral movements. To counteract weight of the impact member It, the bar II is vprovided at its inner end with an upright rod 31 Icarrying a roller 38 adapted to run on a Vtrack formedk by an angle bar 39 extending longitudinally ofthe frame between the end Ymembers I5. f

Simple, but effective'means is provided for yieldably urging the driving bar II and the impact member IG forwardly and for imposing a substantial resistance to the rearward movementA of the member under the impact of a charging player. This means includes a rockshaft 4t disposed transversely o-f the frame I2 and journaled in bearings 4I\'(Fig. 1)" carried by cross members 42 rigidlysecu'red to the side members i4 of the frame. The shaft 4i! is operatively connected with thefdriving bar II by an extensible lever arm-43 which is xed to the shaft 4d torock therewith.` As herein shown,V

secured to the fitting by a pivot pin" 49. A hole'v f- 49 is provided at theA upper end of the section 44 to vent the same.

Acting on the shaft 40 and tending to rockfit in a clockwise direction, as viewed in'Figs. 1 and 4, are a pair-of heavy torsionsprings 5t disposed on opposite sides ofA the lever arm 43. Each spring is anchored at one end to a stationary channel member 5I carried by the frame members 42 and at its other end to a collar 52 mounted on the shaft 4G and adapted to be non-rotatably secured thereto. The arrangement is such that the springs 5i! exert a substantial torque on the shaft 45? and thus tend to shift the driving bar II andv impactmember. I0 forwardly or outwardly from the frame I2. The force exerted by the springs 50 and thus the resistance opposed to the inward movement of the impact member may be regulated by adjustment of the collars 52 on the shaft.

Tol avoid any possibility of injuring the players using the apparatus, means is provided for regulating the speed at which the impact member IG is advanced by the springs 50 following displacement of the member by a charging player.

In accordance with the invention, the speedY regulating Vmeans is equipped with novel controls which operate automatically to interrupt the return movement of the impact member at a predetermined or intermediate starting position, whereby power is stored up for advancing the' member further under manual control to simulate a charging opponent.

The regulating and control means is preferably olf-the pressure fluid operated type and, as herein shown, is arranged for the use of a non-compressible fluid, such as oil. It includes a piston 60 (Fig. 4) movable with the impact member and working in a cylinderGI stationarily supported on the frame I2. The piston 5l? has a piston rod 62 pivotally connected at its-outer end with the leverA arm 43v by a yoke S3 clamped on the rod 45. The cylinder 6i is closed at opposite ends byheaders 64 and 65 secured in place by through bolts 56.1- Header vt4 is formed with an opening for the'passage of the piston rod 62, While'header 55 hasan integrally formed forwardlyprojecting arm 57 pivotally secured by a pin 68 to thefuprights 2i. With this arrangement, the piston 6i) reciprocates with the impact member ifi, but through av substantially shortenedrange of travel due to its connection with the lever arm 43 near the pivotalaxis of the arm.

VSupported on the frame members'ZI is a fluid reservoir 10 connected with the forward or closed end of the cylinder 6I by a conduit Hin which is interposed a check valve i2 arranged to allowfreeow of fluid into the cylinder as the piston lmoves rearwardly,` and to block return flow of uid through the. conduit ll. In the return or forward movement of .the piston, fluid is discharged fromthe closed end of the cylinder 6I through a conduit i3 connected by a T-tting 'i4 with two branch conduits 'i5 and '55, both of which lead to the `reservoir 'l5 and in which are respectively interposed control valves 'I'I and '53.

The valves 'VI and i8 may be of any suitable type and arev shown'herein as conventional rotary shut-olf valves. The valve 'Vi is supported by a bracket secured to one of the frame members I3 with the valve positioned for actuation by the driving bar I I incident to its movements with the impact member. Such actuation is effected, in this instance, by an actuating arm 8l (Figs. 2 and 6) rigid with and .projecting laterally-from the bar I I for .coaction' with a. forked member 82 mounted on themovable member or stem of the valve TI. K The arrangement is such that the valve' is openedwhen the member 82 is rocked in a clockwise direction, as yviewed in Fig. 2, and closed when rockedin the oppositedirection.

The valve 18, as shown, is provided with a hand lever 8-3 (Figs. 3 ande) byfwhiclri-t maybe openedory closed manually. 'Ih-isvalve is.preferab'ly mounted at one side of the frame 12..adjacent4 its forward end for convenient access bythecoach.

or other person supervising thetrain-ing; ofthe,y

players. In practice, valve 1'1 is positioned `so that it is opened as an incident to theV rearward movement of the impact-memberandis closed when the impact member approaches an inter mediate or startingl position in its'vreturn mover ment. The valve 11 may be settometertheflQW of fluid from thecylinder and thus restrctthe return movement of the impact member to aspredetermined safe speed. Assuming that thavalye,

184 is closed, the return movement of the iinpact,A member is interrupted by the closing ofthe valreness of the players, means is provided for meas-- uring and indicating the force exerted by a-charg.- ing player on the impact member H1; In addi-l tion, means is provided for measuring and indi-- cating the time required for a player to mee-t theA impact member and stop its advance in response to a signal'given simultaneously with the opening of the valve 18. rThis aiiords'a convenient means by which the coach maydetect slow-starting players and take steps-to correct the-faults in their "playing technique. K f f For measuring and indicating theaforce of an impact exerted on the member Il), I provide an indicating device 85 movable with the impact member ||l rand adapted to coact with a graduated scale 86 (Figs. l, 4 and 6') stationarily supported on the frame |'2. As best shown in Fig. 4, the indicating device 85 is in the form of a car comprising a generally rectangular body 81" supported by four wheels or rollers 88 on a track formed by angle bars 89 secured between the end frame members l5. y

In the exemplary machine thetrack bars 8`9 are disposed above and at one side of. thedriving rbar I (Fig. 6) and the latter bar is provided with. an L-shaped arm 9i!` projecting laterally and up.- wardly to engage an operating finger 9| rigid, with and extending laterally from `the indicating device. The arrangement is such that the indicate ing device is shifted rearwardly along the track 8S an amount corresponding to the d'isplacementsof the impact member by thecharging player.

A pointer 92 carried -by and movablewith the indicating device coacts lwith the-scale 85A to provide a visual indication of the displacement `of the impact member ||l. As shown in Fig. 6the scale 8B comprises an elongated bar supported iny an edge wise position onthenangle bar, 39,V preferably with its upper edge projectingabove the top of the frame l2. The exposed edge: Q;

the scale is `lformed with graduations` calibrated` in any suitabley units representing ,the` force op..-V posed tc the rearward movement `of the impact,v Preferably, both sides of thescale areV graduated and the end portion ofrrtheppointer9.2.V is looped over theedge of the bar sozthatthe scale.

member.

may -be read from either side ofyrthe apparatus.

When the scale is. graduated to representequalf units of force, the graduations are somewhat more closely spaced adjacentzthe. inner end-of the. scalato.. conform toftheincrease in resistance-- 'devices 85.E and 95 to their intermediate or starte 6% offeredby the springs 5.0 their tensionis DIO- gressively increased.

For measuring and visually players reaction time, I provide a movable indicating device 9.5.- having aqrectangular body- S6 supportedbyfourwheels or; rollers y9,1 on the track bars 83g adjacentthe forward end of the frame. The indicating' device provided with a laterally projecting; finger- 93Y (Fig.` 6)v engageable by the actuating armllof the driving bar as the impact membermoves forwardly from its intermediate. or: starting position. A pointer $9A carrivedi by the device coacts with the forwardvend portion ofthe scale-bar 86- which is conveniently graduated in units representing time. The distanoetraveledby the indicating device thus corresponds to: thedistance through which the impact member advances following its release and until it is stopped by theimpact of a charging player. Since therate at which the impact meme ber advances may be readily determined, the ex.-A

tentof.movementl of the indicating device provdesan Aaccurate indication of `the speed with which the player reacts to the signal to start his charge.

Means isprovided for returning the indicating ing positions after each operation, such positions being. determined in this instance by a stop member |00 (Fig. 4) carried by the track bars 89. The returning means for the twodevices are alike, each comprising a flexible member, such as a cord (0|, connected at one. end to the devicev and having its other'end wound around a take-up reel |82. The reels are mounted in side-by-side relation on a shaft. |03, (Fig. 6) journaled in; al l bearing mise-.cured toA the angle bar v39., In the particular embodiment illustrated, the reels |92 are of hollow cylindrical constructionl and each isjformed .with av peripheral groove for the accommodation of the cord ||l,|. A spiral spring vI 34 disposed within the reely and having its oppositeV YSuitable brake means isprovided for the reelsvv lllZto. limit1 the return movements of the indicating'V devices 8.5.-acnd- 9,5 to a safe speed. The brake means, as herein shown, comprises a brake shoe |05. (Fig. 7) for each reel supported by a headed pin lllislidable in a diametrical aperture in a supporting rod |01 which is positioned above and at one side of the pair of reels. A spring; |558 interposed between they shoe and the rod |01 yieldably urges the shoe into frictional engagement. with theperipheral surface of the reel.

To-insurefull return of the indicating devices to rest position after each operation, provision isvmade for releasing the reel brakes as theriinpact member lll approaches the starting position. For thispurpose the rcd- |91 is pivotally sup.-

Yported, toA swing-'awat7 from the reels |612- and thereby 'retract-the brake shoe |65 from the reels. Support.v for the redis provided inthis instance by'a radially projecting pin |59 (Figs. 6 and '1) seated;V in a vertical aperture-inan angle bracket ||0 welded or otherwise, secured to the ang-lebar thereto. f.

indicating a to pass the brake release rod lill without releas-V ing the brakes in the rearward movement of the impact member, the actuating member is constructed in two sections. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, one section H3 of the member -is rigidly secured in an upright position to the valve actuator 8| and the other section ||4 is vpivotally secured between a pair of spaced lugs H5 projecting forwardly from an extension ||6 of the section ||3. A spring connected between the two sections normally holds them extended or'in axial alinement, as shown in Fig. 8, but permits Ithe upper section to be deected and pass under the brake rod |07 in the movement of the impact member in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 9. After passing the brake rod, the section H4 is snapped back to an upright position by the spring to enable it to release the reel brakes upon the return of the impact member to starting position.

It will be understood, of course, that when the apparatus is in use the frame l2 must be rigidly anchored to the playing surface. In the exemplary apparatus, the frame is securely held against rearward movement by a series of ground-,gripping elements |28 mounted on the bottom frame members i4. The elements |28 may be of any suitable character, such as tapered or wedgeshaped pins and are preferably mounted so as to project downwardly and rearwardly from the frame. The members are thus driven into the playing surface or ground by the force exerted on the impact member which tends to push the frame rearwardly.

To facilitate movement of the apparatus from one place to another, the frame l2 is provided with a series of wheels or rollers |2|, three in the present instance, which are adapted to be retracted when the apparatus is in use and to be shifted into operative position when it is desired to move the apparatus. The arrangement is such that the gripping elements are permitted to function when the rollers are retracted, but upon movement of the rollers tooperative position the gripping elements are withdrawn and the entire weight of the apparatus is transferred to the rollers. As shown in Figs. l and 2, each of the rollers |2| is journaled in one leg ofV an angular bracket |22 which is pivotally mounted on a shaft |23 supported on and extending transversely of the frame I2. The other legs of the brackets |22v project generally upwardly and are interconnected for simultaneous movement by suitable links |24. Handles |25 may be provided on the rear bracket |22 for convenience in rocking the?.V

wheels between operative and retracted positions.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides football training apparatus of novel and advantageous character. The apparatus includes an impact member which can be operated to simulate a charging opponent and means is providedfor measuring and indicating both the force exerted by the charging player against the simulated opponent and the time required for the player to react and execute his charge. The apparatus is compact and readily portable, thus making it convenient to use and, in general, it is well adapted to provide realistic training in both offensive and defensive tactics involving blocking and tackling.

I claim as my invention:

1. In football training apparatus, in combination, a stationary frame, an elongated bar supported in said frame for endwise movement and having one end projecting from said frame, an impact member mounted on the projecting end of said bar, a lever pivotally supported at one end on said frame and connected at its other end with said bar, spring means acting on said lever to urge said bar and said member toward a forward position and to determine the force required to be exerted on said member to shift said bar rearwardly, and means acting on said lever to releasably restrain said bar and said member from forward movement after being shifted rearwardly by an impact.

2. In football training apparatus, in combination, a stationary frame, an impact member, means supporting said member on said frame for movement relative thereto, spring means acting on said supporting means to urge said member outwardly from said frame, said spring means yielding to permit inward movement of the member upon receiving an impact, means automatically limiting the outward movement of said member by said spring means to a starting position after inward displacement of the member by an impact, and manually operable means for releasing said member for further outward movement from said starting position.

3. In football training apparatus, in combination, a stationary frame, an elongated bar supported in said frame for endwise movement and having one endA projecting from said frame, an impact member mounted on the projecting end of said bar, a leverpivotally supported at one end on said frame and connected at its other end with said bar, spring means acting on said lever to urge said bar and said member to a forward position and to determine the force required to be exerted on said member to shift said bar rearwardly, and liuidoperated means including a piston connected to said lever and working in a cylinder connected to said frame for releasably restraining said bar against movement to Said forward position.

4. In football training apparatus having a movable impact member, spring means yieldably urging said member toward a forward position and resisting rearward movement of the member under the impact of a charging player, a stationarily supported cylinder, a piston working in said cylinder and operatively connected for movement with said impact member, a iuid reservoir, a conduit connecting said reservoir with one end of said cylinder for delivering fluid thereto incident to the rearward movement of said impact member and said piston, a check valve in said conduit preventing return flow of iluid therethrough, a second conduit connecting said one end of the cylinder with said reservoir for returning discharged fluid from the cylinder to the reservoir in the forward movement of said impact member and said piston, a valve interposed in said second conduit for controlling the now of fluid therethrough, and means movable with said impact member for actuating said valve.

5..In football training apparatus having a movable impact member, spring means yieldably .urgingssaidfineniberatoward .-a :forward "position and resisting rearward movement of the mem'- ber l.under .theA L-"i"rripa`ct of a charging player, a

fluid therethrough, a second conduit connecting said one end of the cylinder with said reservoir for returning discharged fluid from the cylinder to the reservoir in the forward movement of said impact member and said piston, a pair of valves interposed in said second conduit each independently controlling flow of fluid through the conduit, and means movable with'said impact member for actuating one of said valves to close .the conduit and thereby interrupt the forward movement of the impact member at a predetermined point in its travel, the other of saidr valves being operable manually to open said conduit and initiate the forward movement of said impact member from said predetermined point.

6. Football training apparatus comprising, in combination, an impact member adapted to be charged by a player, means urging said member in a forward direction, said means yielding to permit rearward movement of the member under the impact of a charging player, means retaining said member in an intermediate position, manually operable means for releasing said member for movement forwardly from said intermediate position simultaneously with the signaling of the player to charge the member, and means operated in response to the forward movement of said member for measuring and indicating the time elapsing between such signaling and the engagement of the impact member by the player.

7. In football training apparatus, in combination, a stationary frame, an impact member, means supporting said member on said frame for movement relative thereto, spring means acting on said supporting means to urge said member outwardly from said frame, said spring means yielding to permit inward movement of the member upon receiving an impact, means automatically limiting the outward movement of said member by said spring means to a starting position after inward displacement of the member by an impact, manually operable means for releasing said member for further outward movement from said starting position, and means for indicating the lapsed time between the release of said member and the receipt of the'next impact thereby.

8. In football training apparatus, in combination, a stationary frame, an impact member, means supporting said member onsaid frame for movement relative thereto, spring means acting on said supporting means to urge said member outwardly from said frame, said spring means yielding to permit inward movement of the member upon receiving an impact, means automatically limiting the outward movement of said member by said spring means to a starting position after inward displacement of the member by an impact, manually operable means for releasing said member for further outward movement from said starting position, and an indicating element adapted to move with said member upon its release from said starting position nndto remain-.in its advanced position `when .fmovem-entlof `t-helmember" is interrupted byrec'ei-pt oran-impact, .said .element cooperating with a v.scale .to .indicate 'the elapsed time between the release of vsaid memberto the receipt of the impact. v Y

9.- Eootballtraininggapparatus comprising, in -combinationan-impactmember adapted to be charged by-a playelfmeans urging said member iny aforwardfdirectiomfsaid `means yielding to permit rearward movement of the member under the impact of a charging player, means retaining said member in anV intermediate position, manually operable means for releasing said member for movement forwardly from said intermediate position simultaneously with the signaling of the player to charge the member, means operated as an incident to the forward movement vof said member for measuring and indicating the elapsed time between such signaling and the contact of the player with said member, and

' other means for measuring and indicating the force exerted by the player on said member.

10. Football training apparatus comprising, in combination, an impact member adapted to be charged by a player, means urging said member in a forward direction and yielding to permit rearward movement of the member under the impact of a charging player, and means for measing and indicating the force of the impact imparted to said member by the player comprising a measuring device supported and guided for movement in a path parallel to the path of movement of said member, means movable with said member engageable with said device in the rearward movement of the member to displace the device from a normal rest position, and means carried by said device cooperating with a stationarily supported graduated scale for visually indicating the extent of the displacement vof said device.

11. Infootball training apparatus having a yieldable impact member adapted to be shifted an amount corresponding to the force of an impact received from a charging player, means for visually indicating the force of such impact comprising a stationarily supported graduated scale, an indicator element supported and guided for movement longitudinally of said scale, spring actuated means yieldably urging said element to a Zero position relative to said scale, means shiftable with said impact member engageable with said element to move said element along said scale to a position corresponding to the force of the impact imparted to said member, said spring actuated means acting to return the element to zero position, and brake means associated with said spring actuated means for regulating the rate of return of the element independently of the rate of return of said impact member.

12. In football training apparatus having a stationary frame, a member supported on said frame and movable rearwardly from a forward position upon receiving an impact, means yieldably urging said member toward said forward position and resisting rearward movement thereof cornprising a shaft journaled on said frame with its axis disposed transversely of the path of movement of said member, -a torsion spring connected between said'frame and said shaft tensioned to rock the shaft in one direction, and a lever arm rigid with said shaft and operatively connected with said member.

13. In football training apparatus having a stationary frame, an impact receiving member,

11 12 means supporting said member including an to said bar and telescopingly engaging said lever elongated bar movable longitudinally in said armframe, means yieldably urging said bar and said ELWOOD L PERRY member forwardly and resisting rearward move- References Cited in the me of this patent ment thereof upon receipt of an impact by said 5 member, said means comprising a shaft jour- UNITED *STATES PATENTS naled on said frame, a torsion spring connected Number Name Date between the frame and said shaft, a lever arm 2,183,465 Noor Dec. 12, 1939 xed to said shaft and projecting radially there- 2,255,711 Noor Sept. 9, 1941 from, and a tubular member pivotally connected 10 2,390,336 Spearman Dec. 4, 1945 

